Friday, April 15, 2011

Tomorrow is G-Day! Usually, I get a sense of excitement from the Bulldogs nation about the annual spring contest. Despite the fact that game usually ends up pretty boring, people tend to be fired up. This year...not so much. The new format of having the teams picked seems cool but there just doesn't seem to be much buzz. Maybe it is the 6-7 season, maybe its the injuries, or something else.

I'll be in Athens for G-Day tomorrow and I plan to take pictures and have a complete write up next week. Guys I am looking for tomorrow: Christian Lemay, Ken Malcome, and Kwame Geathers.

SI released its "Welker List" today, a list of some sleeper draft picks that could become great NFL players. Kris Durham made the list and I fully agree that he may become a successful NFL player. He has good size, hands and speed and it was a major mistake that he did not get invited to the combine.

The NCAA released some rule changes today, most notably the "Dooley Rule" and the new rules regarding taunting. No one will make a big deal about the taunting rule until it costs a media darling like Florida or USC a game.

Enjoy G-Day tomorrow, Dawg fans. Its the last Georgia football we get for the next 20 weeks!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of press about the mounting list of injuries suffered by the Georgia Bulldogs during spring practice. But until yesterday, the only serious issue was an MCL strain by Bacarri Rambo that will hold him out for the remainder of spring. Today, we learned that redshirt senior tackle TrintonSturdivant tore his ACL during the scrimmage on Saturday. This appears to be a sad end to a once bright career for Sturdivant.

Sturdivant burst on the scene during the late run during the 2007 season. Then a true freshman, he took over as the starting left tackle by mid season providing protection for Matt Stafford. He was a Freshman All-American and the future looked bright. He would suffer his first ACL tear in the summer of 2008 and missed the '08 season. He returned for 2009 and had regained his left tackle spot heading into the season opener at Oklahoma State. But he would be injured during the game and miss the remainder of the '09 season. 2010 saw Sturdivant earn his starting spot back. All-SEC performer Clint Boling began the year at LT, but moved back to right tackle after Sturdivant proved he was back healthy. He considered leaving school early for the NFL draft, but along with fellow lineman Cordy Glenn, chose to return to Georgia for the 2011 season. Now it appears that decision may have cost him a future in the NFL, as few teams will be willing to take a player who has missed three of the last four years with knee injuries. I really feel bad for TrintonSturdivant. He worked extremely hard to make it back, and this is about the worst thing that could have happened. I'll never forget his dancing during the touchdown celebration against the Gators in 2007. I wish him the best of luck.

As for the Georgia offensive line, it now has a major hole to fill at tackle. Cordy Glenn, who had been splitting time at left tackle with Sturdivant during spring practice, will most likely assume that position full time. Redshirt sophomore Austin Long, junior AJ Harmon, and freshman Kolton Houston will be the primary guys competing for the starting spot. The good news is, they will have all summer to prepare for their new starting role.